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March of the Penguins

(2005, Rated G, Documentary, Starring Morgan Freeman)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 6; suggested age 6.
  • Is it any good?

    5.0
  • Common Sense says

    THE penguin movie. A stunning, loving documentary.

Why We Rated This on for Ages 6 and Up

The good stuff

  • Messages:

    Penguins are very determined and face incredible odds to keep the life cycle going.
 

What to watch out for

  • Violence & scariness:

    Sea lions attack penguins; egg cracks open, killing unborn penguin.
  • Sexy stuff:

    Penguins mate.
  • Language:

    Not an issue.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Not an issue.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About March of the Penguins

Parents need to know that the documentary includes stunning but also occasionally disturbing imagery of penguins walking, mating, and dying. Morgan Freeman narrates as the penguins make their annual march from the Antarctic shore in Antarctica. Some penguins die along the way, others freeze during the long winter as they huddle to protect pregnant females and then eggs and babies, and still others are killed by predators.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about the film's "humanizing" of the penguins, as it describes their sense of loss, fears, and aspirations. How does the movie make penguin pairs seem like romantic couples? How does the movie construct the penguins' sense of community or future? How might the penguins serve as documentary subjects even without such effort to anthropomorphize their feelings?

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Our Members Say

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See all 144 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 3.0

    This will bore your young kids

    But will interest some kids. I love Morgan Freeman, but don't neccissarily love this movie. Yes it's about penguins...but, I don't know. It never hooked me in, I guess. I don't want to sound cold-hearted, but it never touched me, I guess.

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Washington
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence

    • My highlights are:
    • Educational
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

    Adorable, Educational, and Fun!!!!

    I was surprised to find the reviews for this movie were all positive! This movie was an amazing movie, and educational too! Now, I have noticed with documentaries (i realize they are just telling us the truth) like to show us something ridiculously CUTE, and then show us it running away from a predator and getting eaten! This was slightly disturbing to me, but then i'm pretty sensitive!!!! Other than that, this movie is fun, cute and educational! It teaches us to persevere, and that animals really do have personalities!!!!!

  3. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Florida
    I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Excessive consumerism
    • Negative message

    • My highlights are:
    • Good role models

    I like it

    I love this movie!!!!!!!!!

  4. Kid Reviewer Age 10
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0

    adorable and sad.....

    This movie was AWESOME!!! It was sad when the sea lion ate a female penguin but exciting when new life came out of the egg.:)

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 16
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 5.0

    OMG PENGUINS!!!!!!!!! AND MORGAN FREEMAN!!!!!!!!!

  6. I rate this title on for age 7 and give it 5.0

    a MUST see but be aware it's "realistic"

    Amazingly shot and superbly narrated by Morgan Freeman. This is a great window into what happens in the real wild to what normally would be seen as otherwise adorable creatures that walk funny. It shows what life as a penguin is like without getting too graphic. There are, however, some emotional moments that you may want to make sure you touch base with your kids.

  7. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 8 and give it 5.0

    Sensitive children of 8 and up

    After hearing NPR's Terry Gross interview with the creators of the movie Earth opening on Earthday 2009, I thought back about my two boys reaction to the beautiful and inspiring "March of the Penguin". All three of us enjoyed it in 2005, but the attack and death scenes were quite upsetting to my then 6 year old who still loves penguins. As gorgeous as "March of the Penguin" and its gripping story, he has not asked to see it again. This coming from a precocious and sensitive child who has watched "Ratatouille" and "Finding Nemo" at least 12 times, including all of the special features in the DVDs!

  8. Parent Reviewer
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 6 and give it 4.0

    Good, short, family movie

    Educational and entertaining for the whole family

  9. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 1.0

    boooorrrrriiiiiinnnngggg

    the movie is so boring

  10. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in New York
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 3.0

    boring

    boring the movie is very boring

  11. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 1.0

    HORRIBLE

    Worst movie ever! WALKED OUT

  12. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 3.0

    very educacational but try to be awake

    i got a little sleepy during the movie but the movie is educational there is nothing to worry about besides the tragic deaths of some penguin chicks but that is it

  13. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Michigan
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 4.0

    Very Good Documentary Movie

    yep yep yep

  14. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Indiana
    I rate this title iffy for age 2 and give it 2.0

    Booooorrrrrrrrrriiiiiinnng!!!

    This movie is so boring no kid would really enjoy this. Too much educational fact stuff. *-*

  15. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Indiana
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 0.0

  16. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    Lives in Pennsylvania
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 1.0

    DONT WATCH IT

    this movie was soo boring i turned it off only in 10 minutes BORING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  17. Kid Reviewer Age 9
    Lives in California
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

    A heart racin movie

    I loved march of the penguins! There are some sad parts like when the egg did not hatch and when the sea lion got 1 penguin.:( It is very educational. It is a great movie for all ages. Young and old. :)

  18. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Mississippi
    I rate this title on for age 5 and give it 5.0

  19. Kid Reviewer Age 11
    Lives in Ohio
    I rate this title off for age 2 and give it 0.0

    I killed half my sanity watching this!!!

    I HATED THIS MOVIE TO THE MAX!!!!!!It is soooooooooooooo boring!!!!!

  20. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in Arizona
    I rate this title on for age 2 and give it 5.0

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